DesertEagleXIX
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- 3 (100%)
During a recent discussion with several video game reviewers, an interesting question arose. “Name a 3D Playstation One game that had aged gracefully”, a fellow critic asked. I countered with the Spyro games; Insomniac’s three game series that had been a favorite of mine during the late 1990’s. I explained that the Spyro engine still stood as the graphical apex for the PS1, because of its versatility, solid framerate, and lack of pop-in. “Have you played the game, recently?” the critic asked, hoping to nullify my endorsement. I pulled my PSP from my hip pocket, and proudly closed the argument when I showed the original Spyro title on my memory card. We agreed that Spyro the Dragon was the exception to the rule.
As a fan of the franchise, I have felt compelling to play every Spyro game, even after the series stumbled after leaving Insomniac’s capable hands. Enter the Dragon and A Hero’s Tail, the fourth and fifth games of the series, attempted to recreate the enjoyment found in the original games, but were generally perceived to be lackluster efforts. In 2006, the series received a much-needed reboot, as the first of a proposed trilogy was released. The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning emphasized melee combat, but refrained from franchise mainstays such as jewel collecting and mini-games. The next game in the series, Eternal Night, regulated the series to a linear, exceedingly action-oriented adventure. The game was also frustratingly difficult, a far cry from the tranquil pace of the early titles in the series.
The last game of the trilogy is the recently released Dawn of the Dragon, which is the first game to make the jump to now-gen systems as well as the Playstation 2 and Wii. As the game opens, Spyro, Cynder and sidekick Sparx are defrosted as a giant golem attacks. Players will immediately recognize the influence of God of War, as the gigantic beast flails its forearms to attack our reptilian protagonists. After the gamer successfully attacks the creature’s appendages, a quick time event is presented, requiring the player to quickly press one of the face buttons. Although, this might sound derivative, Spyro is aiming for a complexly different demographic that those served by God Of Wars mature-rated content. It’s as if the developer’s goal was to make a family-friendly Kratos clone.
Continued: http://tech-gaming.com/2008/10/29/god-of-roar-spyro-dawn-of-the-dragons-reviewed.aspx
Awesome, I loved the spyro series during my childhood - they were the only games I had the patience to try and get 100% (which I never did, but still...)